7 Airbnbs in Newcastle (and beyond) nestled in nature

Carla GrossettiBy Carla Grossetti
hero media
Pull away from the grey of the highway to the green of the countryside and blue of the sea at one of these great Newcastle Airbnbs.

Newcastle Airbnbs usually have a few things in common: they are near to beaches and nature. The region is known for its varied landscapes and there are a lot of locations designed to encourage guests to stay and play. Here are six of the best that will put you in position to take advantage of all the great things the city has to offer.

1. The Beach House at Merewether

Location: Merewether

The noise of the ocean grows to the volume of a train when night has fallen at The Beach House at Merewether. It’s a sound that is like a lullaby for those whose idea of heaven is a holiday by the sea. Head for coffee at a Newcastle cafe, swim between the flags at Merewether Beach and take advantage of the proximity to some iconic ocean pools.

a private tub at The Beach House at Merewether
Enjoy a relaxing dip in your private tub.

2. The River Haus

Location: Morpeth

Want to check out a few boutique wineries in the nearby Hunter Valley while you’re in the region? It’s just a one-hour drive from Newcastle to the Hunter. It’s where you will find the River Haus, the quintessential country cottage designed for those dreaming of a luxe stay. There’s a full farmhouse kitchen, a wood fire and it’s mere minutes from Boydell’s Cellar Door and Restaurant, one of the restaurants in the Hunter.

the living room interior at The River Haus, Newcastle
Curl up with a book in hand or watch TV in The River Haus cottage.

3. The Little Kilgour

Location: Bar Beach

There are a lot of cool things to do in Newcastle if you want to stay put at The Little Kilgour. The quirky seaside guesthouse is at Bar Beach, just minutes from the Eat Street precinct in Newcastle. It is only a two-minute walk across Empire Park to the beach and close to great surf breaks and baths. The compact guesthouse is small but perfectly formed and fully self-contained. There’s a BBQ and outdoor shower with hot water, too.

bedroom at The Little Kilgour, Newcastle airbnb
Stay at The Little Kilgour if you want to be near the beach.

4. Home in Cooks Hill

Location:  Cooks Hill

A stay in a luxury hotel is not everyone’s cup of tea. Although there are some excellent places to stay in Newcastle, there are also a plethora of charming Newcastle Airbnbs. This 1920s charmer is just one of them. The renovated cottage sleeps up to five people and includes a dedicated workspace designed for digital nomads. There’s free parking at the Home in Cooks Hill, a courtyard and access to Netflix so you can re-binge Schitts Creek.

the Airbnb with reading nook at Home in Cooks Hill
Take advantage of the mini reading nook inside Home in Cooks Hill.

5. Executive Beach Apartment

Location: Newcastle Beach

Bring your significant other to Newcastle to romance them with a stay in this one-bedroom apartment steps away from Newcastle Beach. It’s a fantastic place for whale and dolphin watching, with floor-to-ceiling windows and views for days. The apartment is well placed to take advantage of Newcastle’s best beaches, one of the reasons a holiday here is hard to beat.

dining with views of Newcastle beach at Executive Beach Apartment
Unbeatable beach views at Executive Beach Apartment.

6. Seascape

Location: Merewether

You will see a lot of seagulls when you stay at Seascape, which is in the flight path for the birds which glide through the sky and around the nearby headland. The sound of the sea echoing all around is the other thing you’ll notice when you book a stay at this Newcastle Airbnb. Seascape is only metres from the waves, and boasts uninterrupted views of Merewether, Dixon Park and Bar Beach.

a room with balcony overlooking Newcastle beach at Seascape
Soak up uninterrupted views of Merewether Beach at Seascape.

7. Beach Retreat, Merewether Beach

Location: Merewether

Those searching for a coastal cool escape will find much to admire at Beach Retreat, Merewether . The contemporary four-bedroom cottage sleeps eight and is decked out with all the essentials. Additionally, the cottage looks like it has fallen off a Pinterest page for yachties, with high ceilings, nautical-hued nooks and a soft palette of charcoals and white.

two glasses of wine on the table by the fireplace at Beach Retreat, Merewether Beach
Get cosy with a glass of wine by the fireplace at Beach Retreat.

The state-of-the-art kitchen is designed for entertaining. And the free-standing bath is a luxurious treat. The place is also tucked away in the suburb of Merewether, so you can get a sense of what life is like in Newcastle.

the bathtub at Beach Retreat, Merewether Beach
The oversized bathtub is a luxurious feature.
Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
See all articles
Bedroom view at Caves Coast Newcastle
Newcastle

17 Newcastle accommodation options to bed down at now

A slew of great new places to stay in Newcastle should inspire a visit to NSW’s steel city.

Read more
QT Newcastle Deluxe King Room
Newcastle

9 excellent hotels in Newcastle for your next stay

Explore our pick of the best places to stay in Newcastle to suit every type of traveller.

Read more
hero media

No time to hibernate: experience the best of winter in NSW

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
    Continue
    Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

    When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

    Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

    a beach winter in nsw
    From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

    The Tweed

    In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

    Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

    Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

    visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre
    Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

    Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

    End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

    dining room at Bistro Livi
    Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

    Blue Mountains

    The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

    For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

    Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

    group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing
    Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

    Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

    Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

    dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains
    End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Southern Highlands

    Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

    Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

    When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

    couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral
    Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

    Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

    Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

    woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral
    Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

    Penrith

    Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

    For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

    kayakers on the nepean river in penrith
    Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

    Pullman Penrith
    Set yourself up at Pullman Penrith.

    Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.